Theatrical Design





















Sound

Sound is another integral part of the total experience in the theater, and new technologies have dramatically enhanced sound. Sound engineers can create an almost infinite number of sounds to accompany a play. However, these choices require technicians to work very carefully with directors to set the appropriate tone for the production.

Some sound is carefully planned: actors’ voices, music, special sound effects, like storms and telephones ringing, are part of the plot. Some sounds, however, are extraneous to the play and interfere with the drama — noises from the audience and ambient noise from outside the theater affect any production.
 

Notice how audio affects the emotional impact of the performance. Click a speaker button to turn on or off the dialog or audience's response. Experiment by selecting different sound effects and music.